383/1
fellD 383
RECEIVEDT QUEENTRY
16 DEC 1987
The Rt. Hon. Douglas. Hurd.
گئی
IND. Secretary of State.....
Home Department,
Loddan
14th October 1987.
Dear Mr. Hurd,
HOUSE
ATM
OF
CORDS
3657
C5
Ji
2 BOCT 127
ZUKOV 1987
C
Hong Kong Status of Prisoners - 1997.
As you may be aware I have in the recent past visited Hong Kong, also the International body of the Liberal Party has only a short time ago devoted it's annual gathering to human rights.
In the case of the Colony there may yet arise a very serious difficulty in connection with which the UK may yet be held responsible for failing to take adequate steps to protect the rights of prisoners transferred to sovereign power of PRC when the letters patent and royal instructions which currently provide the constitutional framework for the government of Hong Kong are replaced by the terms of a Basic Law.
That will be the law of China enacted under the terms of the Chinese constitution.
The issue affects particularly those persons who may be returned from the UK to Hong Kong, under the terms of the Fugitive Offenders Act 1967, in the interim period until 30th June 1997 who may still be in custody on that date. I would appreciate your early confirmation that you will delay surrender of any fugitive who has applied to the European Commission on Human Rights alleging ill treatment in the final requesting territory.
I show below for your information recent details of alleged ill treatment and torture of prisoners in the PRC. This list is, of course, not comprehensive, however I am sure you will accept that the cases detailed give rise to serious concern: